Automatic wedge-bolt coupling.



H. 0. LONG.

AUTOMATIC WEDGE BOLT COUPLING.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 28, um.

1,030,902. Patented July 2, 1912.

Inventor COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH 60.. WASHINGTDN- D- C- Witnesses Attorneys NITED STATES HENRY C. LONG, OF OTTAWA, KANSAS.

AUTOMATIC WEDGE-BOLT COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1912.

Application filed September 28, 1911. Serial No. 651,784.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. LONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ottawa, in the county of Franklin and State ofKans-as, have invented a new and useful Automatic lVedge-Bolt Coupler, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in bolt-locking devices, especially designed for railroads, while it may be applied for other purposes.

The invention has for its object to provide an effective locking action between the parts, as against the possible casual displacement thereof.

A further obj cot is to obviate the use of threaded bolts and nuts in effecting the looking action.

A still further object is to deliver or secure a binding or wedging action in effecting the locking together of the parts.

A still further object is to provide for readily applying the device for use and for removing the same with equal facility.

The invention consists of certain instrumentalities and features, substantially as hereinafter fully disclosed and defined by the claims.

In the accompanying ing the preferred form wherein it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made as relates to the details of the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention: Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the invention as applied for locking railroad rail sections together. Fig. 2 is a like view with one wedge member removed and the locking bolt shown in transverse section, the section. being pro duced through the angular portion or outline of the bolt. Fig. 3 is a vertical or trans- .verse section of F 1 upon the line mw. Fig. 4 is a detached side view of one of the locking unthrcaded bolts. Fig. 5 is a broken side view of a modification of the invention. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line :l/-Z/ of Fig. 5.

In carrying out my invention, I employ two wedge-members 1 and 2, which are rectangular in general out-line, and a bolt-member 3, said wedge-members having oppositely sloping or inclined surfaces 4: and 5, respectively, opposed to, or engaging each other as indicated in Fig. 3. The inner Wedge-member 1, that disposed next to the drawing, illustratof my invention,

rail-section or member ('3, has its thickeredge presented upwardly, and, about flush with the corresponding surface of the rail-section or member. The wedge-member 1 has preferably a plurality of inclined slots 7 therein, the general trend of which is about at the angle disclosed in Fig. 2, said slots extending from a point about centrally of the wedge-member, where they receive the looking bolts presently referred to, and opening through the bottom edge thereof. The wedge-member 2 is preferably provided with a plurality of inclined slots 8 likewise extending from about centrally thereof to also receive the locking bolts, which slots, howi ever, may or may not open through the edge of said member, but may terminate at their lower ends in arcuate or circular outline, as I at- S which arcuate or circular outlined por- :tions are somewhat enlarged with respect to the opposite end portions of said slots, the function of which will be apparent later. {The trend of the inclinations of the twowedge-members orbars 1 and 2 is in opposite directions or about at right angles, to aid in effecting a locking action as willmore fully presently appear, the upper terminals of .each two opposed slots of the two sets thus provided intersecting a line extending transversely through the rail-section. The two wedge members land 2 are preferably apertured and slit respectively as at 9 and 10, at opposed ends to receive a retaining, preferably split ring-like contrivance or fastening 11 as shown in Fig. 1 for aiding in securing the two wedge-members against possible displacement. This contrivance or fastening is not considered, however, indispensable, it being used only incidentally or as a contingency in certain cases, as it is .apparent that the device is perfect in its looking or retaining action for all purposes to which it may be applied.

The bolt-member 3, in addition to having the usual head as shown, is reduced or notched transversely as at 12 near its unheaded end to receive the edges of the slots 7; and 8, while the reduced portion 12 of the bolt-member is angular in cross-section as clearly disclosed by Figs. 2 and 3. It is not essential that the bolt-member should be notched or reduced just as herein shown, as itmay be reduced or notched from any two opposite points of its surface and be applicable for its intended purpose as it is thought is apparent.

Ithvill be seen that with the parts or members 1 and 2 applied asindicated. in

Fig. 3, for instance, and the'bolts 3 inserted 7 through the rail-member 6 and the usual modate the reduced portions 12 of the bolts, whereby the edges of the slots will of course, be sunken below the general' surface of the body of each'bolt, thus providingfor hold-- ing the parts jam-tight together and against The angular portions of the bolts,

lateral displacement without the use ofother fastenings, as nuts, keys and thelike.

parent, will prevent any pivoting or-turn- 1 ing movement of. the, members upon said locking bolt-s are initially inserted throughbolts, thus aiding the mutual binding 'or wedging action of saidmembers in effecting a locking action therefor. v 5

' Of course, it will-be observed that the the enlargedterminals 8 of the slots 8 ofthe Wedge-member Q, after which said member-is adjusted downwardly to its final position, thebolts being then received by the reduced portions of'said slots; the member it against the member 1 nowf being adjusted to position, astride of-the angular portions 12 ofsaid bolts intermediate' ofthe meinberQ and the'railsections. It will be further observed that, with the fiared or enlarged edge or portion of the wedge or member 1 presented upwardly adjacent to the rail-section upper surface, the action of the carwheel thereon will have the effectto more firmly wedge 2, as against jarring the same loose as wguld otherwise be the case.

- As suggested by the modification embraced in Fig. 5, a single and preferably thicker wedge-member, 14. may substitute the use of the duplicate wedgemembers in putting my invention into practice. In that case, the member lt would be provided with slots 15 standing or arranged perpendicular to the axis or longitudinal plane of the wedge-member; in other respects the parts remaining unchanged.

From the foregoing disclosure, taken in connection with the drawing, it is apparent that my invention is characterized for exture in the presence treme simplicity, involving the employment of few parts, is readily applied for use requiringthe employment of no nuts, keys or other-like with equal facility be removed in repairing parts, or for other purposes, and is inexpensive roads may I claim:

1. A. device of the character described, including mutually engaging wedge-members, adapted to be applied to an object requiring securing in place, said wedge-members having therein angularly arranged slots, and a securing bolt insertible through said object and having a transversely reduced anbe readily equipped therewith.

gular portion intermediate its ends, adapted to be received by said slots and engage the walls of said slots below the general surface of said bolt. t 2. A device of the character described, in cluding mutually engaging wedge-members adapted to be applled to an ob ect requiring securing 1n place and a securing oolt .insertible through said object and having a transversely reduced angular portion, intermediate its ends, said wedge-members having slots therein arranged at angles with respect to each other, said bolt angular portion beingreceived by said slots, said slots having their walls received below the general surface of said bolt.

3. A device of the character described, including mutually engaging wedge-members adapted to be applied to an object requiring securing in place, said wedge-members having an aperture and a slit therein respectively, a split ring-like fastening engaging said aperture and slit,- and bolts insertible through said object and each having a reduced angular portion, said wedgemembers having slots therein angularly arranged with respect to each other, said slots having theirwalls engaging said bolt angular portion below the general surface of said bolts.

In testimony. thatI claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signaof two witnesses. HENRY C. LONG.

lVit-nesses A. R. CHRONST, L. O. COLEMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

fastenings, while it may of manufacture and any of the rail 

